@ Ureniashtram - ROFL!!! Now he is a how-nee three hundred year old! ROFL !!! Thank you so much Ureniashtram! I will keep trying to horrify you if I get great comments from you for doing it!! Lol.

***
@ Foxy - Oh, I love the poem !!! That chapter was for you, because you enjoyed the thong episode Haute wrote too! (Not to mention the mysterious man that sounded...mysteriously...Foxyish!) You ROCK Foxy !!!!


Just to keep me from searching for it later, I am bumping Gils' picture up to here (also in case anyone missed it) :


http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images0...829a4cd2b0a.jpg

This post has been edited by mALX: Oct 19 2010, 07:55 PM

*


Chapter 62: Between Beast And Beast Species


In a rare flash of brilliance, Ocato came up with the idea to combine the festivities for the music festival with the celebration for Uriel Septim VII’s 87th birthday. Although the music festival began on the seventh of Frostfall and Uriel’s birthday was not till the 30th, it made sense to take advantage of the crowds already coming here.

Gils sat down next to me and pointed it out in the Courier. “Look what Ocato is doing! He’s estimated the size of the crowds coming for the music festival to be greater than the numbers that showed for the Emperor’s Birthday celebrations in the previous years, so he’s decided to hold the celebration at the same time to make it look as if he did a good job. The reason he gives is ‘to keep everyone from making two trips in the same month‘.�

“Ocato is right, for a change. More people went to Luktuv’s funeral than went to the Emperor’s Birthday celebration last year. It was a pitiful turnout. It’s Ocato’s fault, he insists on making those long speeches. Fathis said Uriel is a motivational speaker like no other, yet he did naught but thank the people for coming and sit back down. Ocato’s speech droned on so long that Uriel’s smile looked like a mask by the end it.�

“You saw him?�

“No, Fathis told me. I’ve never seen anything but a purple dot waving at the crowds.�

“He spoke truth. Uriel is charismatic…riveting. I heard him speak years ago…had he been calling men to serve under him I would have dropped everything and joined up without another thought.�

“Fathis moved to Cyrodiil from Morrowind because of a speech he heard Uriel give. He hoped one day to be of service to him.�

Gils pointed to the bottom of the Courier. “Look, it says there will be traveling carnivals setting up in Weye, wild animal exhibits and performing animal acts…�

“Did you ever compete in the goblin chases?�

“Nae, you needed a horse for that. I used to compete in the greased pig, but never caught it. Owyn says that‘s how he got Pork Chop, though.�

“I didn’t have a horse either…I caught the piglet once though, back when I was still in the orphanage. Phillida had it cooked…where are you going?�

“I’m going to show this to Owyn. Since we’re getting a percentage of the box office receipts for the Cage Match, we need to make sure we catch these crowds too. Everything is in readiness for the match, there is no sense missing out on all these people that are already here. We could make a fortune, have you seen the mezzanine lately?�

“It’s been packed! I‘ll go with you, I want to know if Jack posted our percentage of the box receipts yet.�

“He hasn’t…I’m gaining a rank before the Cage Match so my take will be higher.�

“That’s a good idea…I might too.�

“Just don’t get injured.�







***


When the wild animal exhibit set up in Weye Fathis took me to watch them perform. It was already dusk when we arrived, but they had torches set up so the crowds could view the animals in their rolling cages between the performances.

A vendor sold sacks filled with stale bread crusts to throw into the cages and feed the animals. Fathis bought me a sack and then promptly went into hysterics when my bad aim pitched the crusts on the crowd behind us instead of into the cage.

“Hey lady, watch what you’re doing!�

“Fathis, it doesn’t help that you’re laughing…it just makes my aim worse.�

“It can’t be any worse, I may be helping it.�

I pitched a crust at Fathis for saying that. Although Fathis was standing directly beside me, that crust went into the cage over eight feet to my left. The crowd around the cage roared and clapped Fathis on the shoulder.

“You got no worries if she ever becomes abusive, but the neighbors may complain.�

Fathis grinned and for the first time since leaving the Arcane I saw mischief dancing in his eyes. Something flickered inside me, a touch of the old warmth I used to feel when he was near.

“Ah, Ma'Thjizzrini Qa…now that is the look I remember seeing in your eyes.�

I flushed and turned away. “Oh look Fathis! The bear is eating the crust!�

The crowd drew in to watch the bear eat. When he finished the crust, the bear’s eyes fell on me as if the crust had just whetted his appetite. Suddenly it felt as if his eyes locked on mine, piercing into them. He made a woofing sound and his lips became droopy, loose as if tasting my scent in the air. I backed up, my fur beginning to spike. Suddenly I felt a nervousness within me…being this close to a wild beast without my sword drawn.

“Let’s go look at something else, Fathis.� I turned around quickly and bumped full force into a very large man wearing a long cloak and a cowl that obscured his face entirely.

“Please forgive me…� I nodded my head at the cowl and then grabbed Fathis’s hand and pulled him away with me. The bear began roaring and pushing himself against the bars of the cage when I turned my back. A chill ran down my spine…fear.







***


My unease carried over to the lions cages. They were restless, edgy. The male lion had been laying down, but as I approached his tail began flagging back and forth in a jerky motion. His eyes trained steadily on me almost from the moment I walked up. His fur was beginning to buff out along his spine. He rose aggressively and began pacing, his tail beating against the bars of the cage with force.

The lioness was sniffing the air, her eyes closed to barely slits. I saw the glow come from behind her eyes as her vision became thermal…and she was looking right at me. Was it bloodlust? As if I were prey? Once again I felt panic rising in me. I could smell danger in the air, it was palpable. These beasts were not tame, they were hunters…and saw me as dinner.

“Fathis…I want to leave!� I was backing away, keeping my eyes on the lioness. “I think they’ve been feeding them…Khajiit. And the bear too. I want to go, I don‘t want to see the performance…�

Fathis turned toward me, but then seemed to freeze in place. His eyes widened, but he was looking at something behind me. I turned quickly…the man in the cowl was behind me again. Fathis shook his head as if clearing it and took my arm.

Just as I turned my back to leave the male lion jumped against the bars with a roar, his teeth gnashing against the metal. The female yowled in an eerie wail that ended with a snarl…I know that sound. It was the sound that came from me when the Pits from the prison attacked me.

She charged toward the bars, but stopped before hitting them. Her fur was straight up along her spine and the sides of her face. I ran, my claws dug into Fathis’s arm…dragging him behind me. I ran dead into a makeshift fence that encircled several horses. Fathis pulled me to him and held me tightly while I hyperventilated, panicked.

“You’ve come across bear and lion before in your travels, these are no different…they are just caged.“

“No Fathis, there was danger in the air…I could feel it. And it was directed toward me. I don’t know if it was the beasts or…did you know that man in the cowl, Fathis? He was behind us at the bear cage too.�

Fathis shook his head. “No. I thought I did, but that man behind you was taller and not well…kept.�

“You mean he stunk? Body odor mixed with smoke and…festered…rotting…�

Fathis cut me off. “I thought it was the beasts till we passed him.�







***


I was just about to ask Fathis to take me home when I spotted a unicorn. It was hobbled with the performing horses and the mules that pulled the rolling cages. It looked just like the horses in Anvil, solid white like me; but with a gold horn protruding from the middle of its forehead. It was beautiful…and took from me all feelings of tension and wanting to leave.

“Oh Fathis, look! It’s a unicorn! Can we get closer?�

“There’s a man, let’s ask him.�

“These animals here aren’t on display, miss. Just them in the cages.�

“They frighten me. I’ve never seen a unicorn before except in the textbooks at school. She’s beautiful.�

“She’s just as wild as them in the cages, and as dangerous.�

“But she doesn’t want to eat me. She’s wild…but not mean, right? Unless she‘s protecting herself?�

“Aye miss. Ye’ said it true. Her name is Hrelvesuu. She’s a beast when angered, and won’t stop till she’s killed ye’ if’n you the one that got her mad. She‘ll hunt ye‘ down…�

“What does that take?�

“Drawing a sword around her will do the trick right. And there’s some people she just don’t like, right from the start.�

“How can you tell?�

“The first clue is when she tries to kill ‘em. She likes you though, just don’t be drawin’ that sword of your’n out.�

“I won’t. How can you tell she likes me?�

“You been talkin’ to me an’ she ain’t tried to kill you. I owns her, so she protects me.�

“She sure is beautiful.�

“Well thank ye’ miss.�

“My name is Maxical.�

“Well…ye’ kin call me John, that’s all ye’ need t’ know.�

It’s a pleasure to meet you John.� I put out my hand. He wiped his on unclean pants before taking mine.

“I don’t cotton to folks miss…Maxical. Ye best be getting on then.�

“Okay. Goodbye Hrelvesuu…goodbye John.�







***


“You feel better now, do you want to see the performance?�

“I guess.�

Fathis paid a man outside a large tent so we could go inside and see the beasts performing tricks. Seats were placed the outer areas with the center obviously set up for the performances. There were barrels, hoops, and stools set up on the ground…but no barrier between the props and the chairs we were sitting in…no cages? Oh dear gods!

A man in a ridiculously tall hat and fancy spangled jacket was coming in through the back flap of the tent leading the bear on a flimsy chain that would not hold a kitten, or at least that’s how it looked to me.

The scent of imminent danger was thick in the air…I thought I may suffocate any second. Suddenly it felt as if everything was moving in slow motion. I turned to Fathis meaning to ask if we could leave. At the same moment something brushed my arm…a cloak…the man in the cowl taking a seat behind me. A terrible feeling of doom…I heaved out of my chair, tipping it. It crashed to the floor silently, as if in a vacuum…then the sound of the bear roaring. The man in the tall hat shouting…people screaming, shoving toward the exit, trampling anyone in their way…the grunts of the bear as he charged toward us, his breath bursting from slackened lips that flopped spittle with each powerful lunge.

Fathis grabbed hold of me, half dragging…then jerked me up and carried me, running…the bear came off the ground and was hurtling toward the spot I had just been standing. The man in the cowl stumbled and the bear landed on top of him with a terrible roar. I clung to Fathis. He had to leave by the back flap of the tent, the bear was between us and the front flap.

Outside was pandemonium, people screaming and running in all different directions. The man in the tall hat ran out of the tent behind us yelling, “Hey Rube! Hey Rube! Hey Roo!� The flimsy chain still dangled off his hand, several links stretched and broken at the end.

His call to arms brought instant response, it seemed like people materialized out of no where and ran to the tent. The roaring could still be heard coming from inside. Fathis was looking for a way to leave without bringing me through the panicked crowd that was trampling each other in their rush to safety.

The man ‘John’ we spoke to earlier was standing with a longsword between his horse corral and the tent.

“Sir John, the bear is loose. We can’t get out the front. Is there a way out this way? Do you wish me to stand beside you and fight?� Fathis asked him.

“Nae Serjo. I’ll handle it. Cut under that fence and ye’ kin get out. Just stay away from the unicorn.�

We ducked under the make-shift fence. The horses were milling around nervously, stomping and snorting.

“Get in close, Ma'Thjizzrini Qa. Hug to their rear ends.�

“Won’t they kick?�

“Yes, but if they can’t extend their leg it can’t take your head off.�


*

This post has been edited by mALX: Aug 4 2016, 04:30 AM

Fathis and Maxical at the fair! Her aim is still as good as ever and was that a sparkle in his eyes we saw? You really painted a nice picture of Weye set up for a 'fair'. Wonderful! And a unicorn! Woohoo!

I really enjoyed that this episode focused on Maxical.

I am curious about the beasts' unrest and attacking, as I am curious about the stinky hooded man.

Chapter 61: The Thong
‘That crazy vampire in the Courier’ is becoming a favored remark of Vicente’s. This is the second time he has used it in conversation with one of his conquests. Vicente’s slab has to be the warmest place in the whole sanctuary! Talk about irony!

Chapter 62: Between Beast And Beast Species
When typing up this last chapter heading, I was so glad that the last word didn’t begin with an ‘F’.

Dare I say that it was none other than Count Hassildor that the beasts were intent on attacking! Typical of Maxical to think that everything is somehow directed at her. And do I sense some foreshadowing with that unicorn? It would be nice for Maxical to have someone that she can trust without condition.

Oh, and wasn’t Hrelvesuu the name of the Daedroth that Larienna Macrina was tracking in Morrowind?

No, not Janus - Fathis thought it was Janus at first, but the man behind her was much taller, and stunk. (of fire, body odor, festered rotting, etc.) ...it can only be Agronak :

Janus, Vicente, (and Seridur, Imbel) - etc. are all gentlmen. Their clothing is clean, of high quality material, and they bathe in scented water. (and Janus and Vicente are both of average height).





You are exactly right !!!! The Unicorn is Daedric, so I hunted for a female Daedric name. Also right: The Unicorn is a bit of foreshadowing - a huge portion of the last number of chapters is foreshadowing unless I change the script.




This post has been edited by mALX: Oct 19 2010, 10:37 PM

@ EVERYONE - The conversation of M'raaj-Dar in chapter 61 was taken 99% directly from his script

@ Acadian - Thank you so much Acadian !! My inspiration can be directly dated back to a certain TOURNEY !!!!!

The stinky hooded man can only be Agronak. Taller than Janus, reeking, rotting, etc. = Agronak.

I should have explained it better, when the lioness made her cry - Maxical recognized it as the same cry she heard herself make when the Pits were attacking her. Maxical was in fear of her life then...therefore the lioness was in fear for her life.

That is when Maxical began wondering if that man in the cowl had anything to do with the way the animals were acting (and he did)

***
@ Destri - Thank you so much Destri !!! I liked it the first time Vicente used it, so put it in there again - it may be his new catch phrase, ROFL !!!

I answered your queries right below your post




.... Now that you brought this up, you will be sorry ... I have a true story about this:

So, speaking of feces... I worked for a vet years ago. His office was in his home. So, I came in one day to work, and he is making himself a sandwich on the kitchen counter. He asks if I want something to eat, and I asked what he had. He said "take a look." So I walk in his kitchen and open the refrigerator. It has several fecal specimens in the fridge. I gaaked, and started to turn around to say something - and noticed that he has his bread laying on the counter, and not 8 inches away is more fecal specimens !!!! GAAAAH!!!! I nearly lost everything I didn't eat, just think if I had eaten anything !!!!

So anyway, he considered himself somewhat of a gourmet cook, and one day he made some chili. He put out bowls for everyone when we came into work. I wasn't eating mine, because I knew he had to slice the onions (etc.) on that counter. So he kept asking me why I wasn't eating it. I said I was waiting for it to cool. Well, his big german shepherd dog walks up to me and sticks her head in my bowl and starts eating the chili! So the next time the vet asked, I said - "I can't eat it now, Freda just stuck her head in it." - so the vet grabs my bowl and carries it to the kitchen...and...gaaak pours it into the pot of chili! He turns the heat up on the stove and said the heat would kill the germs !!!!!! GAAAH !!!! ROFL !!!!!

So I had to stay with a horse that flew in from Argentina and got a twisted intestine. The airport quarantine would not let the horse go to the hospital, we had to bring everything there to the quarantine station. We were there for days working on that horse. So the vet is going out to get something and asks if I want something to eat. I said, "Hell yes, I'm starving!" I figured we are at the airport mile, it is filled with fast food places. He will pick me up something from one of them. So, the vet comes back with a big piece of chicken wrapped in a paper towel. I said..."where did you get this?" He says, "I stopped by the house, I made that myself last night." Well, I'm starving, but I'm not eating that chicken! So I hid it under the straw in the stall. They had to put the horse down and do an autopsy (necropsy). It took three shots to kill the horse, he was kicking like mad - and he uncovered that piece of chicken I hid. I didn't see it. So, the vet is doing the autopsy and suddenly his eyes land on that chicken in the straw! He says, "What the hell did you do, throw out that chicken after I went and got it for you? That's homemade!" So I said, "No, the horse knocked it out of my hand, I'm not eating it after it was on the floor of the quarantine station." He got mad, picked up the chicken - in the middle of an autopsy, mind you - and handed it to me and told me to brush it off and eat it! I told him unless he wanted to be wearing my puke he could eat it himself, but please not in front of me.

So, those are my feces stories, 100% true. Of course I have more, but I'm sure you wish already you never brought it up, lol.

This post has been edited by mALX: Oct 20 2010, 05:28 AM

REMIND ME TO NEVER GO TO THAT VET'S HOUSE FOR DINNER!!! I am all for the three second rule, but the line has to be drawn somewhere! If he comes into the room and announces that he has made a lovely pate . . . RUN!!

Foxy I agree with you there. Maxical had me laughing all the way through the university chapter.

Malx I'm looking forward to Maxical adventures, amd I'm hoping to see some more pranks xD

In this day and age, that vet would never keep his license!

Yes, veterinarians have come a loooong way since then!

Kind of like the time I “saw” Hubert Humphrey during the 19-(mumble-mumble) presidential campaign.

I really like the depth you give Uriel in the opening section.

The tension around the animal cages puts me very much in mind of the carnivals and fairs from long ago.



Lots to like in this one- especially the lurking, stinky stranger.

Malx I am in awe. I've just read this story in one unbroken stretch. It's 4am in the morning, and I am not regretting it a bit. Absolutely love your work.

@ Destri - ROFL !!! "Pate? I didn't see any livers in the refrigerator!...er, why do they smell funny?" ARGH !!! EW !!!! ROFL !!! Thanks again Destri !!!

***

@ Welcome Doommeister !!!! - Thank you so much !!! I loved her time at the University too, and Foxy's poems are always great summaries of her antics highlighted! It is great to have you reading the story and enjoying it, thank you!!

***
@ Naughty Haughty - I hope so, but you get these large animal guys working out of their homes and the client never sees what goes on in there because the vet drives to their barns. It could still go on somewhere unbeknownst. I saw someone in a vet office this past month lay her cracker with cheez-whiz on it down on the scale, handle the pup, then pick it up and eat it - YECH !!! I may be a germaphobe, though. My stomach can get pretty queasy if I even think my food has touched something it shouldn't - but when I was a kid I ate dirt and grass for fun, so go figure.

Thank you so much Haute !!!

***

@ Treydog - I did a lot of research into the whole Septim line originally to do a story for a contest they were having on this site a couple years ago. (I missed the deadline, lol) I took the details of Uriel's personality from that research and used it as a basis for him in this story.

On the wild animal exhibit - I remembered being scared of them as a child when I was writing that, (long before I was evicted from the Knoxville zoo for inciting the apes).

The part about the Unicorn was planned, John was supposed to just shoo her away, but he kept talking to her as I typed it. ARGH! I liked that part too. I seem to have trouble editing, I always add more stuff instead of deleting it, lol.

Thank you so much Treydog !!!!

***

@ Welcome Doommeister !!!! - Now that's what I love to hear!!! Thank you so much !!! You ROCK for staying up all night reading it !!! That tickled me to hear !!!!

***

This post has been edited by mALX: Oct 21 2010, 12:26 AM

*


Chapter 63: Negotiating Chaos

Two people were trampled to death when a panicked crowd ran from the main tent at the Wild Animal Exhibit after the bear broke free from its trainer and attacked the crowd.

In a surprising twist, the bear was killed by a man it attacked before the handlers were able to arrive on the scene. The man left behind an appalling carnage of what once was a magnificent beast. He then fled, crashing through a stockade and causing several horses and a unicorn to escape.

When interviewed, the Carnies claimed they heard roars coming from the tent and assumed it was the bear devouring someone. In fact, the roars were emitted by the man himself as he tore the bear to pieces with his bare hands.

Witnesses described the man as very tall, malodorous, and wearing both a cloak and a cowl of dark material that obscured his features entirely.

The handlers confirmed that this bear has never had any previous incident, and felt that someone must have incited the bear to attack.

Some of the witnesses on the scene claimed that the bear originally became agitated by an albino Khajiit that was seen throwing hard crusts of bread at the poor beast while it was helpless in a cage, then laughing when it tried to eat the rock-hard projectiles.

Speculation is rampant that the white Khajiit responsible for starting the whole fiasco is none other than Blue Team Warrior Maxical, who is known to have quite a temper. We can’t imagine what the helpless bear could have done to enrage her.

One man who witnessed the abuse of the bear showed us bread crumbs in his own hair, saying she pelted the crowds with them as well.

Spectators also witnessed (Maxical) upsetting the lions in their cages, although no one could state positively whether she harmed them with the rock-hard bread.

Witnesses have also connected the white Khajiit to the man who slaughtered the innocent bear. The man was seen standing behind (Maxical) as she taunted the bear, then was seen again behind her at the lion cage. He also sat directly behind her inside the tent where the murder of the bear occurred.

From the descriptions of onlookers, it is assumed Maxical was there as a guest of Fathis Aren, Court Mage of Castle Bravil. Who is the man in the dark cowl then? We wondered as well. Our assumption is that he is a bodyguard she has hired to protect her since the assault on her by the current Grand Champion, The Gray Prince.

The Courier staff warns Agronak against any future attacks on the petite Khajiit, we saw the remains of the bear! Not a sight we ever wish to witness again.

High Chancellor Ocato has demanded an investigation into the mistreatment of the poor beasts by Maxical, and a bulletin for the immediate arrest of her bodyguard for murdering a helpless animal has been issued.

I dropped the Courier with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach…the man in the cowl was Agronak, no doubt whatsoever. Why was he following me?

Jack sent his runner for me, like I didn‘t know what that was going to be about. A match was in progress, so I had to walk around the Arena to reach the administrative entrance. Almost as soon as I stepped outside I heard the words “bear killer� and saw some tourists pointing at me. A Legionnaire was guarding the administrative entrance, he sneered at me.

“Lucky thing I wasn’t there, the bear would have you and your bodyguard for dinner instead. We’re all watching for you to slip up and take one wrong step…“

Oh dear gods…

Jack was waiting at his desk with a grim look on his face. In front of him sat a tall man…oh dear gods, it was Ocato. The best defense is a good offense…I went in there fuming like Owyn does…pretending not to see Ocato’s pin-shaped head in the chair.

“Jack, I want Hassiri up here immediately to print a retraction of this slanderous garbage! Anyone can see the man in the cowl was Agronak, since when is a stalker considered a bodyguard? Did he escape jail…again? The Legionnaire guarding your entrance just threatened me with retribution by the Legion for this, when it is obviously their lack of performing their job properly that Agronak keeps escaping to murder everyone and their pets. The carnival sold those bread crusts specifically to feed the beasts, and I was there with Fathis Aren, a highly respected diplomat. Who in their right mind would think he would stand by and do nothing if I was harming animals? As if I ever would! …Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were in a meeting. Forgive me Jack.�

Ocato stood up. “I was just leaving. I’ll speak to the Legion guarding your entrance on my way out.� He spoke stiffly to Jack, avoiding looking at me as he exited.

Jack raised his eyebrows at me, pushing his hands together in front of him. I glanced out the door, then came back in.

“He’s gone.�

“Good. I guess I should thank you for saving me from an afternoon of witnessing his interrogation of you.�

“You would have witnessed me putting my sword through him...accidentally�

Jack rolled his eyes. “No more trouble, not now with the town full up.�

I held up my hand. Ocato’s shrill voice was wafting up through the open door, he was screaming at the guard.

“I need to do some damage control Jack.�

“Talk to Andronicus. You could murder the bear in front of the Emperor, and she’d make you look sweeter than sugar. You did a good job with her makeover, by the way.�

“Thanks. I am going to Hassiri and make them print that retraction, though.�

“Hold up just a second, Maxical. Owyn needs a fighter for a Gladiator match or he‘ll have to forfeit to Haki…and you’ll have to live with the mood that will put Owyn in. Your opponent obviously will outrank you; their skill level could be a lot higher than yours, even being Alix‘s daughter. What say you, are you willing?�

“If I win the match I gain the rank of Gladiator?�

Jack nodded.

“Jack…if I make it to Gladiator before the Cage Match, will I get the same percentage Gils got last special match?�

“I can’t give out information on Gils‘ contract, you know that. Your percentage will be higher than it would be if you didn’t, and that’s all I can tell you. Look at your contract for your percentages.�

“If it’s a Gladiator match, why wouldn’t Gils take it?�

“He’s on the schedule already in a rank match to Hero, he can’t fight twice in two days right before the Cage Match. Besides, Haki said Gils would be considered a ringer.�

“A ringer!“ I snorted. "Like Haki doesn’t throw them on us constantly! Gils is smart not to give up that Hero percentage, I'll bet Owyn rode him hard to. Did you move up the date for the Cage Match?�

Jack nodded. “The night after the music festival ends.�

“I hope we still get the crowds. Did Haki approve me to fight his man?�

“He tried to throw a fit, which made him look the fool since he has the higher qualified fighter.�

“He was trying to force Owyn to forfeit the match then, because technically my rank is too low. He‘ll pull something, you know. He always does when backed in a corner. I really don‘t want to get injured before the Cage Match…or have to live with Owyn in a sulk. What fighter does he have posted for the fight?�

He had that little Breton fellow, the one that wears a sword longer than himself and a hundred year old helmet. He just came up and changed it to an Orc.�

“He knows I’m good with a sword, that’s why he pulled that Breton out. That and the Orc will probably fight with a hammer…my downfall. I hate fighting Orc. They have ten times my size and strength…their skin is tougher to slice, even on the abdomen. There is almost no where you can hurt them. It’s impossible to behead them…er…I mean… Drat! I want the extra Septims, but if I get injured I’ll lose everything. How much time do I have to think about it?�

“None.�

“ARGH! Okay, I’ll do it…I just hope I don’t regret it.�











***


Hassiri nodded when I told him I was sure the man in the cowl was Agronak stalking me.

“When Urjabhi described the scene, I knew right away. Maybe you should get a bodyguard if he‘s still following you. He is dangerous.�

“I know. Hassiri, I was hissed and booed coming here. Earlier today a Legionnaire threatened to harass me with fines. It won’t go well for me in the Arena if the crowds aren’t behind me. Your brother’s article…can you print a retraction?�

“I’ll have it out this afternoon in a special edition. I was working on it when you came.�

“If you were in my shoes, what would you do for damage control?�

“The Legion talk to everyone. Do something nice for them and they will spread it around.�

I slipped Hassiri several passes to the manager’s box. “Come see my rank match tonight if you can.�

“Rank match?�

“Owyn’s fighter was disqualified. When he weighed in he was under the influence of Skooma. Owyn threw him out of the Bloodworks. Gils has a rank match the second day of the festival, he wasn‘t giving that up.�

“I don’t blame him. I’ll be there.�







***


Andronicus and I sat down across from Jack. She motioned me to speak.

“How many unranked Legion do you think are stationed here in the Imperial City?�

“Plenty, why?�

“I want to purchase gate passes for tonight’s fight and give them to any unranked Legion.�

“You trying to get out of charges for cruelty to animals?�

“Jack, they sold me the bread crusts specifically to feed those beasts…� I caught the twinkle in his eye and realized he was teasing. “ARGH!�

He gave his pleasant laugh. “Damage control?�

“Yes. They speak to everyone, they’ll spread the word that I treated them well…and I need their cheers tonight.“

“You figure giving them a free gate pass once will do that?�

“Yeah. I lived at the compound, they get nothing usually. Every special treat sent in was always for the ranked. The unranked were naught but grunts in everyone’s eyes. Andronicus said bribery is the quickest path to loyalty. It works with the press.�

“So I noticed.’ Jack held up the Courier Special Edition, then read it. “The Not So Grand Champion. The Gray Prince has been named as the murderer of the gentle performing bear at the Wild Animal Exhibit yesterday. Blah blah…stalking Maxical since the rejection of his proposal…blah blah…assault on her shoulder…he was seen antagonizing the beasts so they would attack her…oh, and even an interview with the man that sold the stale bread crusts. Now he says the beasts love them.�

Andronicus gave me a signal.

“Since I’m buying so many passes, can I get a discount?�

“I’ll see that the cost is discounted. You just leave me a blank cheque, I’ll fill in the amount when I figure it up.�

Andronicus curled her fingers.

“Discounted by how much?�

“Two percent.�

I glanced at Andronicus. She stretched both hands out.

“Can you make it ten percent?�

“No, don’t be ridiculous!�

Andronicus scratched her bottom.

“It would help if I knew what your bottom line is.� I gave an imitation of Jack’s small smile.

“I have to eat too, you know.�

Andronicus held two fingers over her other hand.

“Give me two percent over cost?�

“Forget it.�

Andronicus gave a slight shrug of one shoulder.

“Then what?�

“What is this, you double teaming me? Seven percent over cost.�

Andronicus held three fingers over her other hand.

“You told her to train me.�

“Not on me!�

“Three percent over cost?�

“There’s the door.�

Andronicus stretched her fingers out on one hand, covering the other.

“Five?�

Jack glared at me, then exhaled loudly. “Five, but you’re not in my good books anymore, so watch your step in that Arena.�

“I’m not falling for that, you never play favorites. …Thank you, Jack.� I signed a blank cheque and handed it to him.

He shook his head with a wry smile that didn’t reach his eyes and shooed me out the door, signaling Andronicus to stay behind.

She grinned at me and waved me out. I ducked around the door jamb and leaned against the wall to wait, not necessarily meaning to eavesdrop.

“You’re doing a good job with her training, Andronicus. Don’t use me as your pigeon again though.�

“Who else do we ever deal with? I‘m going with her to hand these to the Legion, let me have a few of the Couriers from your stack to bring with us...in case any of them haven‘t read it yet.�


*

This post has been edited by mALX: Aug 4 2016, 04:34 AM

Your BHC article was marvelous. What a treat to have read Maxical's account of the incident in your last chapter, then see how the Courier viewed it here. Lethal bread missiles and Maxical's ferocious bodyguard! Is it any wonder how rumors get started?

Maxical responded however with a wonderfully clever 'offense' in Ocato's presense. You go, girl!!!

The kitty was smart enough also to get the paper to run a retraction; her time spent cultivating the BHC kitties in the past was time well-spent that paid off here.

I love how you so efficiently handled the second BHC article. Having Jack simply blah blah summarize the highlights was brilliant. You wisely avoided shifting the BHC spotlight from your first magnificently done article.

Well-done, mALX!

That first BHC article made me absolutely furious! Call that journalism????

Then I blessed Hassiri for printing that lovely retraction. Yay!

I had guessed that stinky figure was Aggie. I have a hard time imagining Janus smelling like an abattoir.

Large animal vets nowadays mostly work out of clinics. But yes, vet techs and assistants still have a long road to hoe when it comes to OSHA standard hygiene. Old habits really do die hard, you know.

Like haute, I was boiling over the "journalism" in the first BHC- which shows how effective a piece of writing it was!

And I loved Maxical's ability to quickly counter the bad publicity, along with her "negotiations" in Jack's office.

This upcoming match has me a bit concerned- I don't trust Haki at all.

@ Acadian - Thank you so much!!! That slant on the BHC was a comment on the media today, and how they push their own agenda sometimes - anyone can take even the most innocent of actions and make them look bad by using true facts and skewing the bias placed on those facts.

Usually it would be two papers competing against each other. I could have used my imagination and cooked up a competative newspaper, but decided against it. She may think she is cultivating all the kitties, but they may not look at it the same way.
*
The scene with Ocato, she mentions "Going in there fuming like Owyn does" - I didn't phrase that the way I wanted to (avoiding using "Pretend" twice in one sentence/paragraph). I wanted it to read:
"Going in there pretending to fume like Owyn does."

What I was trying to show was that Owyn's rants aren't always an A-type personality blowing - some of them are staged for the resultant effect. Owyn is a brilliant man...he keeps what he doesn't want seen hidden below a gruff exterior.

I found a better way to show it in the upcoming chapter so left that paragraph as it stood.

Thank you so much Acadian!!! You ROCK! Hope your Dad is well!

***
@ Naughty Haute - Thank you so much Haute!!! (I had to look up that word!! Lol.) - but you are right, Janus smells too good.

I hoped my hints were strong enough that it was Aggie to come across, trying never to forget the lesson of the clear jar of yellow fluid in the original story that everyone thought was Maxical's pee Manheim had squeezed from her greaves, lol. I'm tickled you picked up on that!!!!

I haven't been to Miami in too long to know how large animal Vets do it these days there. They used to carry a trunkful (or truck with those locking cabinets in the bed) full of anything they may need and drive to the farms, horse racetracks, etc. so they could treat multiple animals in one trip. The farms was monthly or if called, but the horse racetrack they just showed up daily and drove barn to barn. Not a day goes by a Vet isn't needed there for something.

***
@ Treydog - Thank you so very much Treydog!!! I was really worried about not putting more tags on those negotiations, afraid it wouldn't come across who was saying what - I'm so glad it worked out!

Between Andronicus and Hassiri, Maxical is getting some good lessons...she actually realized she needed to do damage control this time instead of blithely walking around without realizing there was a problem. You ROCK!!!

Now, let's see what she can do to counter Haki...

*


Chapter 64: Monkey Business



I pushed my way through the crowds on the mezzanine to await the final posting of who my opponent would be, glancing at the board intermittently as I scanned all the new booths set up for the Emperor’s Birthday celebration.

The smells of exotic foods permeated the area, drawing me to each food booth to see what could cause that aroma. With a fight scheduled I couldn’t eat…but the temptation was too great to stand when I found a booth that sold apples covered in a sticky caramel. The girl wrapped wax paper around it for me when I told her I couldn’t eat it right away. I tucked it into my pack, the smell of hot caramel wafting from it making me heady with desire to taste it.

An odd sounding music was drifting across the mezzanine, similar to the sound of the calliope on wheels that played outside the carnivals and performing animal shows. I followed the sound to a chubby man in a bright red uniform with a box strapped to his chest.

He was rapidly turning a crank on one side of the box to make the musical sounds, his thickly waxed moustache wiggling wildly with each movement. As if that were not exciting enough, I was startled to see a tiny beast wearing the same bright red uniform and a red fez hat with gold tassels was dancing on his shoulders to the music.

The man was scanning the crowds, and every now and then he would point to someone and the tiny beast would leap off his shoulder and onto that person. People were giving Septims to the beast and it was taking them to the chubby man, who would immediately pocket them.

“What kind of beast is that? It brings me joy to see him dance!�

“That’s a monkey, lady. Ain’t you ever seen a monkey before?�

I shook my head no, laughing and clapping as it flew through the air and landed on a passerby.

“Look, he is doing tricks for Septims! How smart he is! Will he eat a strawberry? Does he have a name?�

“His name is Coco.� He pointed to the gold lettering on the box that read ‘Tony and Coco. “Er…he prefers Septims.�

“You mean you prefer them. I’ll give you a Septim if I can give him a strawberry.�

Tony pointed to me and Coco leaped over to my shoulder, taking the strawberry and sitting on his haunches to nibble it. Coco planted a wet kiss on my cheek after the man gave him a signal.

“There can’t be anything so cute! Here then Sir Tony, here is a Septim for you.� I gave it to Coco. He leaped back to Tony, who instantly pocketed it.

I dug in my pack for more Septims and treats, following the man as he walked the mezzanine. Every time I pulled a Septim out Tony sent Coco to retrieve it. Each time Coco ate the treat and thanked me for it with a kiss. I was enthralled.







***


At one end of the mezzanine a lightweight cage was set up, filled with monkeys of all different sizes. As the chubby man playing the music neared , they all began leaping up and down and shrieking excitedly.

It stunned me to watch them swinging across the top of the cage, grasping the bars with their feet…and their tails! I was mesmerized and stood gaping like a loon, finding it hard to tear myself from their antics. I dug the last bit of fruit out of my pack and reached in the bars to give it. It was snatched quickly and with a lot of shrieking.

One long hairy arm extended through the lightweight structure and touched the fur on my arm, the cupped hand sliding palm up along the inside of my arm to my cheek.

“Hello little fella…aren’t you cute!� I crooned to the rubbery face.

It stuck a dirty finger in the corner of my mouth, and when I pulled away the gnarled fingernail scratched against my lip.

“Ow!“ Good gods, I better drink a cure potion…

The little beast touched the finger to his own mouth and made a whimpering sound, rubbing a loosely cupped hand and wrist upside down under its chin.

“I’m sorry, did I frighten you? I’m sorry.� I knelt down and let the monkey touch the fur of my arm again. It scratched gently through my thin fur as if looking for fleas…making me wonder if the monkeys were infested.

When I crouched down the other monkeys in the cage set up a shriek, swinging wildly across the cage. It rocked and tipped from their vigorous movements.

“I’m all out of fruit…except this apple covered in caramel…well, I guess you can have some of it.� I took a bite of it, then pulled the piece I bit off out of my mouth and gave it to the monkey that was touching my arm.

An all-out ruckus ensued. Other monkeys attacked the one with the treat, and grabbed the bars of the cage, rocking it and shrieking at me. I quickly bit off more pieces, throwing them into the cage. When the caramel apple was gone I backed away.

As I moved back, the one I had let touch my fur stretched his hand through the bars as far as it would reach toward me and began a wailing shriek. The other monkeys set upon him, the lightweight cage rocking from their wild swinging. These larger monkeys were not as cute and friendly as the tiny one that danced on the man’s shoulders.

I hurried away, checking the board on my way to the Bloodworks. It still showed the Orc as my opponent. I drank a cure potion as soon as I got back, just in case the monkeys carried disease.







***


Just as predicted, Haki pulled something just before we were supposed to head up the chute for the match. Jack’s runner banged on the door and gave the message to Owyn. He was fuming, so I hurried over.

“Oh thank goodness!“ I breathed a sigh of relief.

“What are you, an idiot or something? There’s three of them, every one of them above you in rank!�

“This is a break for me, Owyn. They’re prisoners, they aren’t allowed to carry a weapon. Even if they’ve fought before, they are untrained. Haki had me up against a fully trained Orc, you know I can’t fight Orc. They are ten times my size and strength, and have to be almost sawed through their skin is so tough. They have no weak points, I’d get hit with a hundred pound hammer and the Cage Match would have to be cancelled.�

“Well if Haki doesn’t see me storm up there shouting, he’ll know you want the switch and bring back the Orc. I’ll have to lock Jack’s door and stay in his office shouting till it’s too late for Haki to change fighters.� Owyn held his hand out, palm up.

“Thank you Owyn.� I slid him ten Septims.

Owyn looked poignantly down at his still open hand with a sour expression. “I’m going to have to shirk all my duties here while I’m up there shouting at Jack…for you. There’s still plenty of time for Haki to change fighters, you know…“

I added another ten Septims. “Owyn, if anyone loves a reason to shout for thirty minutes it is you. And the only duty you are shirking right now is getting me prepped for the fight. Andronicus can do that.�

His hand remained out. “My throat feels a little sore…�

I showed him my purse. “You see this is all I have left?� I took the last five Septims and a bottle of healing potion and plopped them into his hand.

“What’s that for?�

“Your throat or Jack’s headache from all your yelling…�

“Wait a minute! What the hell happened to all the advance pay you drew this morning?� Owyn demanded loudly, proving there was nothing wrong with his throat.

“I gave it all to a man with a monkey dancing on his shoulder.�

“Fine! Don’t tell me then. Geez, I’m doing you a favor here!�

“That scowl is perfect Owyn, keep it on your face all the way to Jack’s office in case Haki sees you.�

Owyn stormed out, grumbling under his breath. I hoped Owyn could keep Jack’s office tied up so it would appear to Haki as if he was fighting hard to not allow the prisoners…but poor Jack, I really was going to be in his black books now.







***


The signal came to enter the chute for my match, Owyn was still not back from Jack’s office, I had no idea who I would be facing when I entered the hold. The first thing I spotted was an Argonian in sackcloth pants. Oh thank goodness! I saw a lot of Legion armor and uniforms in the crowds, too…good.

To get the crowds hyped up and behind me again, I did something I hadn’t done since I was a Pit. I leaped up on the bars of the gate, raising an arm high and circling it while whooping to stir the excitement. They cheered, and on the spur of the moment I started swinging in what I thought was a pretty good imitation of the monkeys I’d seen earlier.

The gate was too sturdy to rock from my exertions like the monkey cage did, but the crowd did notice my antics and responded with an outburst of cheering and stomping feet. I climbed to the top of the gate so my head and upper torso could clearly be seen by the prisoners in the opposite hold. Locking my legs under the top bar, I raised both hands straight up in the air, circling them and whooping.

It worked. The crowds started going wild, screaming and stomping their feet continuously in a cadenced beat. I pulled myself up to a stand on the top bar and raised my arms to the sky again, whooping. Again the crowd answered, screaming and stomping. This time I did a little dance across the top bar, timing my movements to the cadenced sound of their feet stomping while making my tail dance like a cobra behind me.

With this huge a crowd, the screaming and thunder of their feet was so loud that Wes Johnson had to call several times before I heard him tell me to get back in the hold. When I did, I went back to swinging from the bars like I had seen the monkeys do. The whole time I kept my tail dancing like a snake and whooped as loud as I could.

Somehow over the screaming crowds I heard it, an eerie wail followed by what sounded like a war of angry shrieks. I looked up at the mezzanine and saw the monkey cage rocking wildly, the beasts were going berserk in it.

Just as Wes Johnson called ‘Lower The Gates’ the monkey cage tipped over and could no longer be seen sticking above the half-wall of the mezzanine. A loud crash and screams sounded. People were running panicked, shoving each other…they began tumbling over the railings to the grandstand areas below.

Monkeys began swinging off the balconies and dropping down from the mezzanine…oh [censored], the monkeys are loose! Several of the monkeys balanced themselves on top of the chute gates doing odd cadenced…dancelike movements, their arms circling in the air and shrieking…their tails dancing…swinging on the bars…oh dear gods! Is that what I looked like? Are they imitating me? Oh dear gods…

There was no time to worry about that, the prisoners were charging across the Arena at me while I stood in the chute like a dummy.

The prisoners had reached the chute already, I was cornered and had to use my ‘Eye of Khajiit’ to get out of there. It was my fault for being distracted, and it was a huge disadvantage to not have it to fall back on later in the fight.

I drew my sword and charged out of the chute behind them, all the while distracted by the shrieks and panic coming from the mezzanine and the uneasy feeling the monkeys‘ actions had something to do with me.


*

This post has been edited by mALX: Aug 4 2016, 04:36 AM

All the large animal vets still have everything they need except for major surgery in their trucks. Most just don't work out of their homes as much anymore. Too many regulations and liabilities these days. So they work out of clinics and stock their trucks every day.

Back to your story, all I can say is this:
Yes, my dear Maxical, they certainly do!